Book 5: Chapter 8
Book 5: Chapter 8
Zerry-san and I hired a carriage to journey to the Lev Magic Empire as soon as possible. But when the information that the Empire had “collapsed” started circulating, horse-drawn carriages to the Empire suspended operations. The only ones making trips to the Empire were carriages of caravan merchants who saw this as a business opportunity instead.
In a village near the Empire, Zerry-san decided to continue riding on a caravan carriage — by taking on an escort request to get on board — and I decided to “run” ahead first. There are only a limited number of roads that horses can take, but on your own feet you can take many other paths.
Humans are surprisingly capable of doing many things.
「Are you sure about this, bochan?」
「Yes, I’ll probably get there in a day.」
「Are you going to run for an entire day?」
Zerry-san wore an unpleasant expression. I think she will be able to keep up with me, but she doesn’t want to overdo it, it seems.
「Well, I’m sure you can solve all the problems on your own, bochan. There’s no reason for me to go there.」
She seems to have excessive expectations of me.
…But I’m not 100% sure I’ll be able to help.
Anyway, it was late at night, so I decided to have a meal with the caravan of merchants.
There was only one bar in the village. It seems that people usually stopped by this village before heading over to the Lev Magic Empire. Apparently, the village’s trade wasn’t affected much as the Empire was originally secretive and there wasn’t much traffic.
The table seats, which had about 20 seats, were crowded with members of the caravan who were escorted by Zerry-san. The dishes served in the bar were grilled meat and cheap alcohol that you can find anywhere.
People who were tired from the long trips still ate the food like it was an exquisite dish. Hunger truly is the best spice in the world.
「Oh man, we were so lucky to hire someone as capable as you.」
The leader of the caravan was a woman in her twenties, with her long red hair tied casually behind. Her bangs hung down messily over her right eye, but there seems to be a burn scar near that eye, so it makes sense to hide it.
She wore a sleeveless shirt and was quite tanned. Her upper arms were supple and muscular.
She was a hearty person who laughed a lot and brimmed with confidence.
「What’s more, you’re a woman. You don’t see too many female escorts.」she said.
「Is there some advantage to having a female escort?」I asked.
「Well, of course. There are many things that only another woman can understand.」
「That’s right, bochan. Well, you will need to grow up more before you can learn about those things.」Zerry-san said, while hitting my head.
She is always annoying when she starts drinking.
「Aren’t you dressed quite poorly for someone who is called bochan?」the woman asked me.
「Well, it’s complicated.」
I spun a story that I will stay behind and wait for Zerry-san in this village. It would be a hassle if I told them “I am going to run to the Empire” and they tried to stop me.
My appearance got even more dirty during the long journey from the Holy City.
「Leaving that aside, onee-san, you have been to the Lev site several times, right? Can you tell us any information from there?」
「Please stop calling me onee-san. I am not that young anymore. But don’t you dare call me obaa-san either, okay? I’ll kill you.」
「Okay…」
So troublesome.
「I am Yua. Call me by name.」
「Okay, Yua-san.」
「You’re a good boy. …You have something to do with Lev, right? Isn’t that why you’re sending Zerry there alone?」
「…………」
I kept silent. I don’t want to accidentally say something important.
「Well, everyone has their reasons. You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.」
I’m glad that she was able to understand my silence so easily.
Yua-san continued talking after drinking a mug of alcohol.
「So, about the Empire… Soldiers are gathering there from everywhere. A new problem seems to have occured in the Empire. That was the latest information I got from the village mayor.」
「New problem?」
「There is a dungeon called “Labyrinth of 9 Emotions” and the whole country is doing its best to capture them, it seems. But one of the capture teams made a report full of lies and is being denounced, I heard.」
Zerry-san and I exchanged glances.
「…Which was it again? I forgot which division it was, but the leader was a female…」
「Female leader!?」
I was shocked. Lulusha-san was the only female chief of the Labyrinth Capture Divisions.
「O-Oh. You are also a man, after all. So you must be excited when you hear about women, huh.」
「No, that’s not it. Lulu– Did you say Labyrinth Capture Division 4 is being denounced?」
「Well, that’s what I heard. It seems that the female leader has been arrested. And the adventurers who cooperated with her were also charged guilty, so it seems that they are being pursued right now.」
「————」
The adventurers who cooperated must be Silver Balance.
I stood up and rushed outside.
「—B-Bochan! Please wait!」
Looking behind, Zerry-san chased after me outside.
「I will go ahead first.」
It was late at night. A studded starry sky spread out, and a cool breeze blew from the nearby forest. It was dark, but I should be able to manage with【Light Magic】.
「You must be kidding me… bochan. Going through the forest at night is suicide.」
「It’s no problem.」
「Of course it’s a problem! Hey, bochan. You are certainly strong. But you shouldn’t underestimate the forest. What if you are bitten by a spider with an unknown poison? What if the ground sinks beneath you and you fall into a cave? And you want to go all alone!?」
「Zerry-san.」
I didn’t turn around to look at her.
「Let’s meet again soon.」
And I started running.
「Nmo~~~ Bochan, you idiot~~~!」
I left the village, leaving behind Zerry-san’s screams and concerns.
(Lulusha-san was caught. Is everyone from Silver Balance safe?)
I ran.
Zerry-san’s worries were natural. And I don’t think I can go as fast as I can during the daytime.
But still, if I leave now, I should be able to reach the checking station before noon.
Nothing may happen in that short period, but I still couldn’t help but run.
** Back World – Dark Elf Village **
「I see, I understand now. When Reiji-san said he will go ahead first, he meant he will leave me behind and go alone, right?」
The Hundredman chief and Knock gulped their spit loudly in reaction to the aura emanating from Anastasia.
After parting with Reiji, the two returned to the “Back World” again. To their surprise, the overflowing amount of skill orbs in that place had disappeared. In addition, the surroundings were devastated, and the overgrown vegetation was laid to waste.
Although that scene sent chills down their spine, the Hundredman chief and Knock decided to split up and return to the village on their own, fearing that they might be tailed by the mediator. Fortunately, there was no sign of that.
When they returned, Anastasia ran up to them full of joy and smiles. But when she found out that Reiji was not there, she wore a hopeless expression as if the world itself had ended. And now, after learning the full circumstances, rage dyed her whole body.
「So you’re saying, he left me again?」
「N-No, princess, he has an important business over there…」the Hundredman chief tried to explain.
「Which means I am not important, right?」
「That’s not what I said! Hey, Knock, say something…」
「Everything is at the will of the High Elf-sama.」
The Hundredman chief was stunned when he saw Knock already prostrating on the ground
「We will depart.」
「…What did you say?」
「We are leaving. Towards the First Altar.」
「No, but we’re not ready…」
「Right now!」
「Eh~!?」
「Understood.」
Contrary to the astonished Hundredman chief, Knock quickly stood up and ran to gather his companions.
「Are you serious……」
The Hundredman chief’s body was exhausted after running for the past few days.
「Hundredman chief-san.」
「Eek.」
Asha called out with a soft voice, but it sent goosebumps through the Hundredman chief’s body.
「Please show us the way, okay?」
「…Y-Yes.」
The Hundred chief had no choice but to nod because he was overwhelmed by Asha’s indescribable smile.
He was inwardly surprised that this was the power that the dark elves revere.
(Oi, Reiji. You…better choose your words carefully when you next meet the princess… I don’t know what’s gonna happen.)
The Hundredman chief felt slight sympathy for Reiji.